Author Srividhya Venkat on Telling Difficult Stories- plus a GIVEWAY!

Hello world!!

Welcome to my blog, Blissfully Bookish. Please welcome Srividhya Venkat, here to chat about her new nonfiction picture book, SEEKER OF TRUTH: KAILASH SATYARTHI’S FIGHT TO END CHILD LABOR illustrated by Danica Da Silva Pereira and published by Little Bee Books.

BUT first- YAY! Srividhya is generously giving away a FREE copy of her book (US only) or a 30-minute AMA on Zoom! To be eligible to win, please enter the Rafflecopter contest by clicking HERE. Contest ends June 21, 2024.

Please describe the journey to publication and inspiration for SEEKER OF TRUTH: KAILASH SATYARTHI’S FIGHT TO END CHILD LABOR.

When I first learned about Kailash Satyarthi’s work as a child rights activist, it brought back childhood memories from India where I had seen children working in households and small shops. At that time, although I did not question what I saw, I realized how privileged I was.

As I delved deeper into my research on Kailash, it was disturbing to learn that some children were forced to work in unsafe places like quarries, mines, and factories, while others endured abuse and other forms of exploitation. But here was a man risking his own life to rescue these children. Kailash’s curiosity, courage, and compassion touched my heart. I knew his story had to be told. And when I saw that there were no picture books about him, I embarked on the journey to write the first one.

However, writing this book was not easy. This being my first nonfiction book, I tried to be as thorough as possible with my research. In the process, I learned about the heartrending stories of children working to support their families, their unsafe working conditions, the risky jobs they are forced to perform, and their other horrifying experiences. At one point, I stepped away from this project due to self-doubt about my own strength and ability to tell the story. But then I reminded myself that Kailash’s story had to be told, and his message needed to reach readers everywhere.

I knew this book had to be child-friendly and yet not hold back the harsh realities of life for enslaved children. My critique group kept pushing me to get the story right. They inspired countless rounds of revisions and edits till the manuscript was ready. My agent and, at a later stage, my editor also helped refine the text and back matter.

How did you research this topic and did you get to speak to Kailash Satyarthi?

For my research, I primarily relied on interviews, write-ups, and a documentary film on Kailash. I also read books written by Kailash. I tried to focus on key life events that needed to be reflected in the book. In addition, I studied other picture book biographies related to the theme of child labor, or social justice in general.

I have not spoken to Kailash Satyarthi, but hope to meet or speak to him some day soon.

What message would you like the book to impart to children?

I am hopeful that ‘Seeker of Truth’ will inspire readers to be curious, compassionate, and courageous, like Kailash himself. I hope that children will learn to question inequities and injustices in society, and speak up against them. Through this book, I would like readers to know that every person, young or old, has the power to make change happen.

What is your writing process and does it vary depending on the project?

I usually begin with a theme/idea, then begin writing the story as it comes to me. This is usually me telling myself the story. I try not to think about story arc, character arc, message, etc. at this stage since that takes away the natural flow of thoughts. Once I have finished the rough draft, I put it away for a few days before getting back to revising or rewriting it. When I have a satisfying draft ready, I take it to my critique group. What follows is several rounds of revisions and editing with feedback from my critique group. When I eventually have a draft I’m excited about, I send it to my agent for her comments.

My process is nearly the same for every book, except when extensive research is needed as in a nonfiction project like Seeker of Truth.

Please paste a short and compelling excerpt from your book.

Please share your favorite books from 2022-3 that inspired you.

Here are a couple of books (from 2021 and before) that inspired me while I was working on ‘Seeker of Truth’:

• ‘For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story’ (by Rebecca Langston-George and Janna Bock),
• ‘The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy’ (by Kekla Magoon and Laura Freeman),
• ‘The Traveling Camera: Lewis Hine and the Fight to End Child Labor’ (by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs and Michael Garland).

Here are more titles from 2022-23:

• ‘Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta’ (by Jennifer Torres and Sara Palacios),
• ‘I’ll Go and Come Back’ (by Rajani LaRocca and Sara Palacios),
• ‘The Three Little Mittens’ (by Linda Bailey and Natalia Shaloshvili).

What is the best piece of advice you would give to other writers?

Three things to remember:

1. Keep writing the stories you need to tell.
2. Find a writing community.
3. Do not compare yourself with others.

And a bonus question just for kicks! What was your favorite book when you were a child?

I cannot think of one favorite book. As a child growing up in India, I loved the Adventure series and Mystery series by Enid Blyton, a British author. They transported me to a different world that filled me with excitement, and paved the way to making me an avid reader.

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BIO

Srividhya Venkat enjoys writing stories that reflect nuances of her love for her roots in India. Her picture book, GIRLS ON WHEELS, is on the 2024 RISE: A Feminist Book Project List, while DANCING IN THATHA’S FOOTSTEPS won the South Asia Book Award 2022, and THE CLEVER TAILOR was one of Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids 2019. When not reading or writing, Srividhya loves to listen to music, tinker with new recipes, and explore the world outside her window.

LINKS
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